1981-1982
Senate Document #42
APC Document #35
Credit Hour Requirements
1) A major field of concentration leading to the B.A./B.S. Degree
shall consist of not more than thirty-six semester hours, with a
maximum of twenty-four semester hours of cognate courses, exclusive
of any departmental foreign language requirements.
Rationale: Most departments at UNCA have been observing this 36/24
limit already without detriment to their programs. Most peer
institutions of UNCA impose similar limitations. UNCA students
have gone on record as approving the limitation. The current
catalogue statement on page 48 leaves room for abuse of the 60-hour
limitation for major/cognate requirements by allowing departments
to introduce a virtually unlimited number of required 100-level
courses. Among other problems with such practice, it is
questionable whether the required 100-level courses are in fact
genuine [4mintroductory[0m level courses. Therefore the phrase "above
the introductory level" should be deleted from the current
catalogue statement.
2) Cases may occur in which accepted national standards,
professional organizations accreditation standards, and/or
precedence from [similar programs at similar] institutions dictate
adoption of requirements exceeding the limitations described in 1.
In such cases, APC may approve the addition of a total of no more
than six hours of requirements for a given program. These six
hours may apply to major field and/or cognate requirements (e.g.,
42/24 or 36/30 or 39/27 hours maximum, but in no circumstances
shall major field and cognate requirements ever exceed 66 semester
hours. Evidence to be considered in such cases shall consist of
written documentation which establishes that the quality of that
program would be substantially diminished in quality by strict
adherence to the limitations described in 1.
Rationale: The Department Chairpersons generally expressed the
need for some flexibility in credit hour requirements in their
responses to the questionnaire. Credit hour limitations are not
useful in the unusual circumstance in which they substantially
interfere with the quality of a program. The 66-hour limitation in
extenuating circumstances is reasonable because: 1) exceeding this
limit would infringe upon the quality of a liberal arts education
by restricting the student's focus too severely, and 2) there is no
precedent for programs which require more than 66 hours as peer
institutions.
3) In all programs leading to the B.A. or B.S. Degree, the number
of semester hours in general education courses (e.g.,
all-university requirements) plus the semester hours in elective
courses shall total 60 semester hours.
Rationale: This requirement will help ensure that UNCA students
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will receive a liberal arts education by allowing students in any
B.A./B.S. program to take several electives. This requirement may
require students in certain major fields to complete more than 120
semester hours to graduate. This policy is more desirable than the
current policy, which in effect reduces a student's exposure to
liberal arts when major and cognate requirements exceed 60 hours.
Fewer departments may attempt to "professionalize" their majors
with excessive requirements when Department Chairpersons realize
that increasing major requirements beyond the 36/24 hour limitation
will [4mnot[0m anymore mean that coursework in liberal arts will be
reduced to compensate, but rather that more total coursework will
be required of the student. Conceivably, a student whose major
field requires up to 66 hours may have to complete a maximum of 126
semester hours to graduate. This 126 hours was in fact the
graduation requirement at UNCA until recently.
4) The B.F.A. or similar degree should be given in Fine
Arts-related major programs which do not conform to recommendations
1 or 2, and 3.
Rationale: Because of students' need to learn both performance
skills and academic content in certain Fine Arts-related programs,
there is a precedent in peer institutions for allowing students to
take over two-thirds of their coursework in the major. Such a
concentration of coursework does not fall into the scope of a
conventional B.A./B.S. degree program, and hence deserves special
designation. The 45 hours of general education requirements would
still apply to B.F.A. degree programs, ensuring Fine Arts
Departments would be allowed the option of offering either the B.A.
or B.F.A. degree, depending upon the needs of each particular
program. Recommendation 4 also anticipates the possible
establishment of a Music major and the development of a new track
in Art in the future.
5) All existing degree programs shall be reviewed in light of
recommendations 1-4.
Rationale: This recommendation insures that the recommended
policies be implemented. Ambiguity in the catalogue statement
covering course hour limitations has led to inconsistency in
application of current requirements. Resulting discrepancies need
correction.
6) All departmental course hour requirements, prerequisites, etc.,
must be openly stated in the catalogue.
Rationale: "Hidden" requirements have in the past been a source of
great confusion for students, faculty, and administration alike.